ABSTRACT
The Treaty of Rome contained a number of provisions and powers in the employment and social policy field which pre-date the social measures of the Maastricht Treaties. The concept of a 'collective redundancy' is set out in Article 1 of the Directive. For example, a collective dismissal would be deemed to be taking place where, in any establishment with at least 500 employees, at least 30 employees are to be dismissed on economic grounds within period of 30 calendar days. The earliest deliberations on European Works Councils, which were based very much on German model of employee representation, date back to the draft for a regulation on a European Company Statute in 1970 – a proposal which has still not been implemented, despite numerous reworkings and attempts at political compromise. The European Court of Justice has recognised the protection of a right to a dwelling, to religious freedom, to a fair trial and to effective legal protection.
